About the Study

AboutMethods

The American College President Study

The American College President Study (ACPS), conducted by the American Council on Education’s Center for Policy Research and Strategy (CPRS) and generously supported by the TIAA Institute, has long served the higher education community as the most comprehensive, in-depth, and frequently cited source of information about the college presidency and the higher education leadership pipeline.

The ACPS is the premier source of demographic data, tracking college and university presidents from public, private, and for-profit accredited, degree-granting institutions.

In addition to long-collected data points on presidents’ education, career path, the presidential search and acceptance process, age, race and ethnicity, and relationship status, the 2017 edition for the first time collected data on perceptions on funding, accountability, and state political climate; the growing importance of campus climate issues; and information on sexual orientation, political ideology, and religious affiliation.

Methods

Institutions were categorized using the “basic classification” system developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.1 Institutions are divided into five types:

  • Doctorate-granting universities
  • Master’s institutions
  • Bachelor’s colleges
  • Associate colleges
  • Special focus institutions

The Center for Policy Research and Strategy (CPRS) is the steward of historical ACPS data files. For the first time, CPRS has revisited historical ACPS data in order to improve comparability across years. In some cases, this may result in slight revisions to past ACPS data. With the exception of data presented in the College Presidents, by Race/Ethnicity charts in the 2017 Overview, all proportions are rounded to the nearest percent.


Data were also collected from leaders of certain institutions and systems not included in the Carnegie classification, including some state higher education systems classified as “Other.”


ACPS 2017
Surveys were mailed to 3,615 presidents, chancellors, and CEOs on April 18, 2016. All presidents with a valid email address received an invitation to complete the survey online. Nonresponding presidents received reminder emails between May and October 2016. Presidents without a valid email address and those who had not responded by July 2016 received a paper version of the survey, giving them the opportunity to respond through digital or print means. Respondents held office in the 2015 and 2016 academic years. Data came from 1,546 presidents and CEOs. The response rate for the 2016 survey was 43 percent.

ACPS 2012

Surveys were mailed to 3,318 presidents and CEOs on May 31, 2011. For the first time, the survey was launched completely online. Nonresponding presidents received reminder emails in June, July, and August. Additionally, in August a paper version of the survey was sent to nonrespondents, giving them the option of responding online or through the paper survey. Respondents held office in the academic year 2011–12. Data came from 1,662 total responses, including 1,462 presidents who provided new information for the 2011 survey, as well as demographic information on 200 presidents who were known to be in the same position as in 2006 but who did not respond directly to the 2011 survey. The overall response rate was 50 percent.


ACPS 2007
Surveys were mailed to 3,396 presidents and CEOs in March 2006. For the first time, presidents
had the choice of completing the survey either on paper or via the Internet. Nonresponding presidents received a second mailing in May 2006 and a third follow-up letter in July 2006. Respondents held office in the academic year 2005–06. The 2,148 responses analyzed in this report include those of 1,603 presidents who provided new information for the 2006 survey, as well as information on 545 presidents who were known to be in the same position as in 2001 but who did not respond directly to the 2006 survey. The overall response rate was 63 percent.

ACPS 2002
Surveys were mailed to 3,848 presidents, CEOs, and system heads in September 2001. Nonresponding presidents received a second mailing in October 2001 and a third in December 2001. Respondents held office in the academic year 2001–02. The 2,594 responses analyzed in this report include those of 1,995 presidents who provided new information for the 2001 survey, as well as information on 599 presidents who were known to be in the same position as in 1998 but who did not respond directly to the 2001 survey. The overall response rate was 67 percent.Surveys were mailed to 3,848 presidents, CEOs, and system heads in September 2001. Nonresponding presidents received a second mailing in October 2001 and a third in December 2001. Respondents held office in the academic year 2001–02. The 2,594 responses analyzed in this report include those of 1,995 presidents who provided new information for the 2001 survey, as well as information on 599 presidents who were known to be in the same position as in 1998 but who did not respond directly to the 2001 survey. The overall response rate was 67 percent.